The Cave City Watermelon Festival, on which Julie serves with a committee since 2015, will be held at the Cave City Park July 28-30. The harvest is the easiest part, according to the brothers. Phillip - 870-307-9632Gary - 870-283-2854. Brothers Jonathan and Justin Hunter are the newest and youngest registered Cave City Watermelon Growers. This is not a rinky-dink operation: More than 500,000 attendees are expected at this years event, enjoying activities such as a cherry pancake breakfast, the crowning of the Cherry Queen, and delicious barbecue and beer. From left, Tyler Parsley, Cederic Etheridge, Jonathan Fowler and Julie Johnson, members of the Cave City Watermelon Festival Committee, stand by some of the melons they will be celebrating July 27-29. The seeds are started in the greenhouse in March. The continual hot weather has now put them about one week ahead of schedule in opening the stands. 71 were here. But the town began a steady decline when it was bypassed by the railroad in the late 1800s. J.W. Town and family lore have it that the post office was secretly spirited out of Loyal and rolled on logs to Cave City after the presidential election of 1892 placed more friendly Democrats in charge of the postal department! The Watermelon Growers Games begin at 3 p.m. with a free watermelon feast at 4 p.m. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups and Tourism, Auto & Motorcycle Sales, Service, Tires & More, Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups & Tourism. Its worse than Black Friday at Walmart, Julie laughed. Their first attempt at utilizing the transplanting technique over seed planting was one of the many trial and error experiences from which the Johnsons have learned. 2 talking about this. Growing watermelons has run in the family for several decades. On August 12th, 1925, Hugh and Edgar Laseter established a new standard for giant melons with their 136-lb winning watermelon. It is in honor of a grower who died unexpectedly last June. After returning to Cave City from World War II, Lester became a watermelon farmer in 1945. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We select one featured photo per week, but we show many more in our gallery. Another interesting mention of the picnic in 1902 related that The rents for swings and lemonade stands will be used toward buying a wind mill to draw the water from the cave. [An article from theRecorddated July of 1928 states that the town had been celebrating the Fourth of July each summer for 35 years, which would have put the tradition starting as far back as 1893.] "Whenever people buy the watermelon, they need to make sure it has the registered trademark sticker, because if it doesn't, it's not the real . Back to . There is always one question most people want to know about watermelons. Meachams Family Restaurant This restaurant has been around for over 40 years. We did everything wrong we possibly could, Gary said. Many other milestones occurred in the early years of the history of Cave City. Phillip spoke of his grandfathers stubborn nature, a trait that at least, in part, led to the success and longevity of his business being carried through to his son and grandsons. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late 60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit. Evening Shade is small but gained some popularity in the 90s when it was the setting for the television show of the same name starring Burt Reynolds. Everything about this festival is a sheer delight, from the pickle juice drinking contest to the Lil Gherkins kids play zone. Cave City seems in the middle of nowhere. Live musicians such as Luke Stroud, the Farris Family Quartet, Legacy Five, Shane Thornton, and others will perform Thursday and Friday. Source:http://www.kait8.com/story/38582549/cave-city-watermelon-growers-warn-against-knockoffs, Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs, Students map out early Arkansas explorer's path, Procedures for Commercial/Industrial Construction. (KAIT) - The Cave City Watermelon Festival is getting closer. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000. In the beginning, they took trips to sell melons. Johnson Brothers Watermelons is a family operated business consisting of Gary & Becky & Phillip &. Regardless, its high summer, and Im ready for a sweet treat. CAVE CITY Cave City bills itself as having the "world's sweetest watermelons." Find out for yourself July 29-31 during the 41st annual Watermelon Festival, which offers three days packed Local businesses will hold special events throughout town as well. D & S Rodeo If you love rodeo and music, you will want to head to the D & S Arena. While watermelons are still at the center of our celebration, we also celebrate the people and businesses that make the Cave City area one of the greatest places in Arkansas! Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year. That year, the Johnsons attended field days in watermelon fields in Southeast Missouri from Leechville to Hocum, areas where watermelons also grow well. The Hunter Brothers are located in Cave City. This three-day event will be held July 28-30th and will include entertainment, fun vendors, yummy food trucks, a parade, activities for kids and adults, and of course, a free melon feast, which is courtesy of the watermelon growers in the area. We made a little money and have been doing it ever since, Gary said. Brothers, Gary and Phillip are 3rd generation watermelon growers. Preferred listings, or those with featured website buttons, indicate YP advertisers who directly provide information about their businesses to help consumers make more informed buying decisions. Be sure to stop by on a Friday and order the catfish. We thought we were going to be about three weeks late.". Sadly, their father passed away in June before seeing the first of what is now the 46th harvest of his sons melons and the establishment of Johnson Brothers Watermelons. The plants will have established a root ball in about five or six weeks, and are solid enough to be transplanted. Ozark Classic Craft Mall Like many small businesses, the last year has been difficult. While contestants are toting in their entries for the Prize Melon competition at the park, the White River Family Fun "Wet Zone" with waterslides starts at 6 p.m. and goes until dark in the softball field. Created with Sketch. Weve all just been working hard since we canceled last year, Johnson said. CAVE CITY, Ark. One bite into one of these sweet, juicy melons makes it worth the trip. Over at Perkey & Woolridge, theyre experiencing the same busyness. Outfitters include Spring River Oaks, Many Islands Camp and Canoe, and Southfork Resort. You want the stem to be green with a white spot on the belly. Gary added, Some of the spots are also yellow to brown depending on the variety of melon., It hasnt always been easy. Locals and watermelon farmers all agree the festival has seen a lot of changes over the years. Visitors can view their work with paddlefish, sturgeon, Gulf Coast Striped Bass, walleye, and smallmouth bass. Another point of interest was the cave which was located in the center of town, and from which the town received its name. Stop in for lunch or dinner and you will know why. The Watermelon Growers Games begin at 3 p.m. with a free watermelon feast at 4 p.m. BREAKING: Student arrested for crime involving explosives, Growers prepare for Cave City Watermelon Festival, Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, Jonesboro police investigating 2 reported shootings, Plans for new Sikeston fire station moving forward, Buddhist monks to create mandala sand painting at Lyon College. The icy water makes for excellent trout fishing and a beautiful floating opportunity. A former Yankee who was "converted" to the south by her husband, Julie has grasped on to rural life in a sleepy, blink-your-eyes-and-you'll-miss-it town in central Arkansas. We are very grateful that people like what we produce, Julie said. Laman Bros. General Store (Photo from the Gary Perkey collection.). The three-day festival will take place on July 28-30. Gather around for events such as the biggest happy hour of the summer and enjoy an all-you-can-eat barbecue brunch on Sunday. The World's Sweetest Watermelons. "Then you can always contact that grower with the information that's on there and give a call and say 'hey, we picked this up at this place is this legitimate?'". There is also a thriving art and music scene. Now, in its 43rd year, the watermelon festival is the largest festival in the region and has been voted as one of Arkansas' best festivals. Visitors can also see remnants of the famous swinging bridge which spanned the Black River until it was dismantled in 1957. Authors Note: Some locations may have altered hours, service or be temporarily closed due to Covid. So much so that Cave Citys watermelons are celebrated each year at the annual Cave City Watermelon Festival Celebrating its 42ndyear, the 2022 Cave City Watermelon Festival officials are looking to draw thousands into Cave City for the celebration. Grower Brian Carter can trace that blood back to his great, great grandfather who hauled melons from Sandtown by wagon to sell in Batesville in the early 1900s. They offer indoor and outdoor dining and a menu that includes a little bit of everything. Older Post Cave City watermelon growers warn against knockoffs. Johnson suggests you could always make the trip to Sharp County to visit one of the grower's own stands as well. It has grown exponentially each year since the new board took over. There are several outfitters in the area that will provide gear and shuttle service so you can enjoy a fun day in the cool waters of the Spring River. Held each year since 1980, Charles and Anita Landers spearheaded the one-of-a-kind event for decades. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. "They thrive really well in hot weather so the hot May was really good for growth," Johnson said. In those days, there were no festival, growers association, or even a sticker brand to market the melons. Over the years, small communities and churches sprang up in this area of Sharp and Independence counties, many of which established their own post offices and schools. Copyright 2018KAIT. Although the town of Cave City is some 150 miles from the Mississippi River, it has been said that the Crystal River rises and falls with the Mississippi River. Drew serves on the Arkansas Travel Council Board of Directors, is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs current publicity chair. To contact our registered growers, check: http://www.cavecitywatermelonfestival.com/about_us.php Courtesy www.cavecityarkansas.info: "These days, the reason for Cave City's renowned and its place on the map is due primarily to the annual Watermel See more 5,505 people like this 5,757 people follow this One of the most favorite and anticipated of these camp meetings was the holiness camp meeting held every year at Calamine by ministers of the Nazarene Church. Tracy Byrd Here is the complete schedule, Check Cave City Watermelon Festival website for updates before travel Thursday - July 29 5:00 PM But with every good thing comes some form of negative issue. Dear Crossing If there is a Hot Wheels or Matchbox lover in your crew this shop is a must-see! These days, the reason for Cave Citys renowned and its place on the map is due primarily to the annual Watermelon Festival! by Themeansar, Johnson Brothers For the love of watermelons, Sharp County public service entities receive nearly $1.36 million from American Rescue Plan, NO!! by Cathy Drew | Jul 18, 2022 | Travel Tips, Cave City, Home of the Worlds Sweetest Watermelons. Wooldridge says even though COVID canceled the festival last year, it didnt cancel watermelon season, working from sunrise until sundown picking and selling watermelons. The Watermelon Growers Games begin at 3 p.m. with a free watermelon feast at 4 p.m. While watermelons are at the center of the celebration, the people and businesses that make the Cave City area one of the greatest places in Arkansas are also celebrated. Your email address will not be published. For more information, visitwww.arkansas.com. He said, I will let them sit there and rot before I take that. Phillip laughed, recalling the story, And thats exactly what happened. Their grandmothers family also grew melons and peddled them door to door after hauling them by wagon to Batesville. The fact is, growers begin working to bring the melons to the area months before with preparations long before the plants even go into the green-houses and eventually into the earth where they will grow. http://www.kait8.com/story/38582549/cave-city-watermelon-growers-warn-against-knockoffs. It is not just a piece of fruit, its more than that, its a memory. He said that is why they try so hard to ensure their melons come off at the perfect time. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. The International Festival and Events Association (IFEA) has named the Cave City Watermelon Festival (CCWF) a winner in the 2022 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards. Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups and Tourism, Auto & Motorcycle Sales, Service, Tires & More, Chambers, Schools, Towns, Counties, Groups & Tourism. Be sure to fill out all the fields in order to have yours selected. The prize melon auction is at 5 p.m. and benefits Arkansas Children's Hospital. Have altered hours, service or be temporarily closed due to Covid recalling the,! Music, you will know why also a thriving art and music, you want. Ensure their melons come off at the perfect time have yours selected, Some of the Sweetest... There and rot before I take that place on July 28-30 Cave City watermelon festival is getting closer people., it hasnt always been easy the same busyness Landers spearheaded the one-of-a-kind for! Music scene to grow each year since the new board took over they try so hard to ensure their come... Three weeks late. `` excellent trout fishing and a menu that includes a little bit of everything since. 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